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Dr. Breitmeyer is a geoenvironmental engineer and hydrogeologist specializing in environmental modeling. Dr. Breitmeyer has expertise in the study and modeling of multi-phase flow and transport in a wide variety of geomaterials. He has experience with numerous environmental modeling tools and software, including HYDRUS, UNSATH, MODFLOW, HSSM, AERMOD, and CALPUFF. Dr. Breitmeyer has conducted research on characterization and modeling of liquid flow in bioreactor landfills and in landfill covers. He has expertise in laboratory testing and field-scale experimentation and instrumentation for characterizing the mechanical and hydraulic properties of geomaterials. He has also designed, fabricated, and operated custom laboratory equipment and instrumentation for geomaterial testing. Dr. Breitmeyer also has experience performing feasibility-level remediation cost estimates for contaminated sites and accrual purposes and has experience using RACER to develop remedial cost estimates.
Breitmeyer, RJ, Benson, CH. Measurement of unsaturated hydraulic properties of municipal solid waste. Proceedings, Geofrontiers 2011, ASCE Geothechnical Special Publication 211, 2011, Dallas, TX, March 13–16.
Breitmeyer RJ, Meyer LL, Bareither CA, Benson CH, Edil TB, Barlaz MA. Calibration of time domain reflectometry water content sensors in municipal solid waste. Proceedings, Global Waste Manage Symposium 2010, San Antonio, TX, October 3–6, 2010.
Bareither CA, Breitmeyer RJ, Meyer LL, Benson CH, Edil TB, Barlaz MA. Mechanical and environmental characterization of excavated and processed municipal solid waste. Proceedings, Global Waste Management Symposium 2010, San Antonio, TX, October 3–6, 2010.
Benson CH, Breitmeyer RJ. Using inversion to improve prediction in geoenvironmental engineering. Geo-Strata 2010; 14(1):22−27.
Breitmeyer RJ, Bareither CA, Benson CH, Edil TB, Barlaz MA. Field-scale lysimeter experiment to study hydrologic and mechanical properties of municipal solid waste. Proceedings, Global Waste Management Symposium 2008, Copper Mountain, CO, September 7–10, 2008.
Bareither CA, Breitmeyer RJ, Meyer LL, Benson CH, Edil TB, Barlaz MA. Mechanical and environmental characterization of excavated and processed municipal solid waste. Proceedings, Global Waste Management Symposium 2010, San Antonio, TX, October 3–6, 2010. (Outstanding Student Paper Award).
Presentations
Breitmeyer RJ, Cooper CA, Decker DL. Thermal convection in laboratory-scale porous media. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting San Francisco, CA, 2006.
- Graduate Research Assistant, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2006–2010
- Graduate Research Assistant, Desert Research Institute, 2004–2006
- Public Service Intern, Washoe County Department of Water Resources, 2002–2004
Developed experimental techniques for visualizing thermally driven liquid flow in laboratory-scale porous media. Project purpose was to investigate the dynamics of buoyant plumes developing in saturated porous systems. A thermochromic tracer was used to track fluid and thermal flows simultaneously using digital image analysis. Designed and performed experiments for investigating the hydraulic properties of saturated and undsaturated municipal solid waste in bioreactor landfills. Experiments were conducted at field- and laboratory scales in included the design and fabrication of custom testing equipment and monitoring instrumentation. Data collected from the experiments was used to condition finite element flow models to estimate hydraulic properties of solid waste. Simulated hydrologic performance of landfill cover systems. Performed numerical simulations with UNSATH to assess the suitability of various landfill cover designs for permitting purposes. Performed simulations of evapotranspiration covers as well as conventional Subtitle D type covers. Project involved researching and analyzing meteorological conditions at and near the site to evaluate expected precipitation frequency and quantity as well and evapotranspiration. Compared cover performance with regulatory guidelines to determine design suitability. Developed remediation cost estimates for dielectric fluid spills from electrical transmission infrastructure. Project scope was to develop conceptual release scenarios and estimate potential remediation costs associated with different failure modes. Project supported development of relative risk tools for power transmission system operators to assess potential financial liabilities. Analysis of water chemistry data and source characterization for heavy-manufacturing site. Project was to analyze heavy metals contamination associated with facility operations and to identify contaminant sources and possible mitigation best management practices. Developed a model to estimate contributions from various infrastructure and operational contaminant sources. Identification of heavy-metal contaminant sources allowed recommendation of several operational and manufacturing best management practices to mitigate contamination. Modeled vadose-zone perchlorate leaching and transport at former rocket fuel production facility. Performed unsaturated contaminant transport modeling using HYDRUS to assess the feasibility of soil flushing for reducing short-term exposure risk from perchlorate contamination of near-surface soils. Estimated remediation costs for contingent environmental liability accrual purposes. Performed feasibility-level remediation cost estimate for an historic ash landfill on the site of an industrial facility. Estimated costs for various remediation options for the ash landfill associated with a paper production facility. Project involved preparing estimates of onsite ash volumes and costs using RACER software associated with removal and offsite disposal versus an in-place grade-and-cap plan. Estimated forensic remediation costs. Performed forensic cost estimates for a CERCLA site to estimate remediation costs consistent with estimable costs from historical documents and back-dated remediation unit cost data. Project involved extensive research to obtain out-of-print cost data and relevant site documents corresponding to time periods of interest. Project also involved extensive research of EPA documents and records to assess comparable and contemporary sites and associated contaminant costs. Conducted screening-level assessment of risks associated with wind-transported radiation from nuclear power facility. Project involved estimating emissions from potential nuclear reactor failures and identification of possible wind conditions that could pose risks to client assets. Provided client with recommendations for appropriate actions to take under different transport scenarios. Assessed fate and transport of contaminants by fugitive dust. Project involved estimating and modeling dust emissions and associated transport of herbicides from application areas onto adjacent agricultural operations. Project involved extensive research on fate of herbicides in the environment, dust emission and erosion, and air-dispersion modeling. The project also required assessment and interpretation of large amounts of soil data and air-dispersion transport model results. Provided client with estimates of the extent of contaminant transport and model support for field observations. Prepared feasibility-study level remediation cost estimates for a closed, specialized industrial waste landfill site. Developed and compared different remediation alternatives to determine the most cost effective methods. Utilized unit cost database software (RACER) as well as obtained on-the-ground estimates from local contractors to estimate reasonable remediation costs. Developed conceptual site model for remediation activity requirements at contaminated industrial site, and subsequent allocation of costs. Project has involved assessing groundwater contamination from ash settlement and scrubber-effluent ponds. Site characterization activities involved geological and hydrogeological research and interpretation.
- American Geophysical Union
- Geological Society of America
- American Society of Civil Engineers (associate member)
- Soil Science Society of America
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- Ph.D., Geological Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2011
- M.S., Hydrogeology, University of Nevada, Reno (Desert Research Institute), 2006
- B.S., Hydrogeology, University of Nevada, Reno (high distinction), 2004
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